A to Z of Fitness – L for Lean Body Mass / Lactic Acid

I get asked a lot similar questions, so over the next month both on my Instagram (@fitchicnic) and on here, I’ll be going through the alphabet talking about some of the most common health and fitness related questions and topics.

L is for Lean Body Mass / Lactic Acid

Lean Body Mass is everything in the body except for fat. So this means organs, bone, skin, nails, and of course muscle. 50-60% of lean body mass is water, which is why it’s so important to keep hydrated.

That ‘toned’ look is essentially someone who has a decent amount of lean body mass from exercise, but with a low amount of body fat (I’ll talk more about “toning” when we get to T.) Having a high LBM boosts your metabolism (thanks to healthy working organs and muscle) so it’s easier to maintain a healthy weight. So build muscle and lose body fat, but never dip below necessary levels as it’ll lead to health complications. Building muscle as we age becomes much more important too.

Lactic Acid isn’t the waste product that causes muscle soreness (DOMS) and tiredness, it’s actually an important energy source for your body both during and after your workout. Muscles break down carbs anaerobically to provide energy, resulting in something called pyruvate. However when sufficient oxygen is not available, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid for further use in the body. The DOMS you may feel is due to tiny muscle tears and inflammations, but Lactic Acid is actually gone from the body pretty quickly!